Yasashiikuma Blog

Here are some recent pictures of puppies that have come to us:

Norm sent along a picture of Zack - who was Andy from the Mountain litter - enjoying a day at the dog park.

And here are a couple of pictures of Flicker along with her new Kitty Mom from Maria.

I know that a number of you that read the blog on a regular/semi-regular basis are members of the Yasashiikuma “family” and have one or more puppies from me, and I really need  your input (i.e. comments please!)

You have all been through my placement policies, i.e. not knowing which puppy will be yours until after the puppy aptitude testing, and having me select which puppy or puppies would be best suited for your home.

Can you please give me input on how you and your family found dealing with that experience?  Would you have selected the puppy that I suggested had you been given free choice out of all of the litter?

I guess basically I’m trying to get a view of the other side of the puppy placement equation….and either confirm or deny that this is the best method for choosing homes.

As promised I’ve totaled up the figures from this litter, and its enough to make a grown accountant weep.  

Before putting down the numbers, I think the following information has to be considered:

1. This was a well bred litter, from a Champion bitch and a Championship pointed (2 5-point U.S. majors) male.  The sire is the son of a bitch who won the prestigious CWCCA “Megan” event, and the dam is the daughter of a Multiple Best in Show and Best in Specialty show winner.   There were no “corners cut” in the choice of the parents of the litter.
2. The costs do not include any of the costs of raising the mother herself, her show career or her pre-pregnancy care, or health checks because they were done for a previous litter.
3. There has been no costs allocated for my time and sleepless nights - or for Chris’ time watching and carrying for the litter while I am at the office.  I am very fortunate that he works a large percentage of the time at home, but there are labour costs included for the times we were both out of the house.  However, those costs are only included at the rate of $40 a day, which does not include transportation of my daughter and/or her family, meals, etc.
4. There are no costs included for travel to and from the vet for C-Section, Dewclaw removal or shots, nor costs incurred to transport Cinder to do the breeding. 

Despite all of these items “NOT” being included, here is the final tally:

Yes, it is true that if this had not been a c-section, there would have been “profit” of $695.  So based upon 24 hour a day care for 3 weeks, and 4 hours a day for 5 weeks (644 hrs. MINIMUM) we made maybe $1.08 an hour if you don’t include any of the costs outlined above.

So…..does anyone still believe that you “make good money” breeding quality dogs and selling them for a reasonable price?

Today has been a bittersweet day as the first of the puppies leave for their new homes.

Really, in the end this is what it is all about. While we hope to produce that next Best In Show winner, in reality 80% of our puppies end up as well loved pets with the great fortune of having loving pet-parents of their own, instead of sharing the attention as part of a pack.

Despite the balance sheet, the lack of sleep, the bags of trash being run to the dump, and the unpaid hours of labour - everything goes back “into the black” when I see the happy faces of the families who add a new member to their own “pack”.

And so today, with some tears, we said goodbye to half of the “Fire Crew” as they were dispatched to their new “stations”.

First to depart was Sparky.  He has gone to live with Maryse and Bernie in Waterloo, and will be called “Teddy” for his cuddly Teddy Bear personality, and is keeping the name Yasashiikuma Jacob’s Ladder.

Next Flicker left with Mike and Maria to go run a station in Guelph.   With her bold outlook they considered Spitfire as a possibility but settled on the name Yasashiikuma Flickerin Firefly and will keep her name as Flicker.

And last, but definitely not least, Fergus went down to Toronto to learn the ropes from his cousin Cai, on how to train his new family Janet & Gillian.  He is also keeping his name “Fergus” and will be known as Yasashiikuma Bright Flame.  If I can twist their arms hard enough, we may see Fergus making a ring debut in the fall. 

Around here it is very quiet.  Chief has filed a complaint with management. “SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION!! You expect me to put up with GIRLS??? Couldn’t ya have left Fergus or Sparky here and sent home one of these???”  We’ve told him that when he develops opposable thumbs he can put in a written complaint…in triplicate….along with the appropriate fees…..

As we said goodbye to the babies we had a new first time visitor to the house.  At first glimple I thought, just maybe I was finally seeing a Loggerhead Shrike.  However, when this little guy started to walk down the tree his orgin was clear and he was identified as a Red Breasted Nuthatch.   Apparently not commonly seen at feeders, they are fairly widespread in this region, but he is the first I’ve seen.

When I get all the paperwork together, I will produce the final accounting for those who really want to consider this as a method of “making a few dollars”

Well, The Fire Crew are 8 weeks old today and it is time for them to start going to their new homes. Here is the last video we will get of the whole litter together. Amazing how they’ve developed, isn’t it?

We’ll have more news later today and tomorrow as the puppies say hello to their new owners and goodbye to the kennel.

He’s a natural…but then so are Flicker and Ember.  I’ve never see puppies that sit up as naturally as this bunch do.   But then I have never had so much trouble selecting my picks out of a litter either.  One thing I can definitely say is that The Fire Crew is one consistent group of puppies.

And yes, Chief, you are staying …at least until a show home can be found for you

It is finally sunny and dry after a long period of dampness.  The lower yard is so wet that Jon comes in with a soaking belly after his soccer practice, and the path from the door to the rec room is a trail of mud from paws.

However, we were able to set up the new puppy pen on the front lawn, where it is relatively dry,  and give the babies some sunshine and fresh air for a few hours.

First we had a picnic lunch…….

…and then we did some investigation of the new digs……..

….followed by games of Lippizan Stallion impersonations.

It was one very pooped bunch of puppies after a few hours who were happy to come back in and sleep.

Carolyn, I have to pass on a big thanks for teaching an old dog new tricks.  Since the weather has been so cold and damp and the puppies have not gotten out as much as I would like, I used your idea of a box of shavings outside of the regular whelping box.  Within one day the puppies have trained themselves to use the shavings as a toilet and the whelping box is clean.  I am totally amazed, first at how fast they learned this, and second, why no one has ever mentioned this before in the 20 years I’ve been breeding!! Thank you so much! (and my old washing machine for the dog laundry thanks you too!)

We got the first round of photos from the National last week - pictures of Chip.

First is Chip’s photo from the Megan.

Then his photo from the regular classes.

Then from last weekend at the VIctoria County KC show Libby winning her first point.

Day 49….its a huge day in the life of the babies.

First, its going to be shot day.  Tomorrow morning we will all trundle down to Palgrave to go visit Dr. Lorna and Dr. Ed and get first puppy shots and those nasty microchips implanted.  The shots aren’t bad - occassionally a microchip gives a problem - after all **I** can’t even get stuck with a hair fine needle, how can I expect them to take that quietly.

Second, we will be having the temperament testing done.  **IF** all goes well (and remember this is Shelley we are talking about), I will be getting a camera tonight, and with any luck if we can figure it out, we may be able to stream the testing online so that you all can watch as they are tested.

I make no promises, it will take some doing to set this up, but worst case scenario, as long as the camera is working we will have video of the testing.

A new pen is arriving today to so that the puppies can get to play safely outside.  Some reconstruction needs to be done on the old pens thanks to members of the “Yasashiikuma Excavation Company” before they are usable for puppies, so this new pen will give them more room to run and play while still being safe from flying and walking predators.

Stay tuned for news of where to watch the testing…if its a go.